Digitalis purpurea, Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea are a stunning cultivar and they are beautiful right now at the nursery!
Digitalis are considered a biennial, which means they produce leaf and root in their first year and flower and seed in their second year. They contain both characteristics of annuals and perennials, as well as being over zealous weeders. Some of the most outstanding examples are Foxglove, Hollyhocks, Sweet Williams, Campanula and Verbascum (Mullein).
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GROWING DIGITALIS
Deer Resistant!
Digitalis prefers moist, organically rich, acidic, well-drained soil in part shade. Soil must not be allowed to dry out. They bloom in late spring, about the same time as roses begin their blooming period. Removal of flower spikes after bloom may stimulate a secondary bloom. To encourage plants to act as perennials, cut all spent flowering stalks before seeds set. If left to go to seed, the plant will act more as a biennial and will self seed if in optimum growing conditions. Digitalis reseed and colonize in the most interesting ways.
Digitalis has striking colors and good architectural height in garden beds.
Some cultivars grow to 5 ft tall while some grow between 3-4ft tall (Camelot Series).
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DIGITALIS: HISTORY AS A MEDICINAL PLANT
A SOURCE FOR DIGOXIN USED TO TREAT CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA
Digitalis is commonly used as an ornamental plant for gardeners but it has a long history for medicinal use as well. Their dried leaves contain the drug digoxin that is used to treat cardiac arrhythmia. It was popularized in 1785 by a British physician that spoke of Digitalis purpurea helping the heart work more efficiently. A curious story revolves around Vincent Van Gogh and his connection to the use of digitalis to treat his epilepsy. The over use of the chemical digoxin found in digitalis can affect one’s eyesight, by tipping the vision color scale to a yellow tint and seeing halos around objects. People have theorized that Van Gogh was affected by these side effects, alluding to his yellow period and his frequent use of halos in his paintings. In a self portrait Van Gogh is depicted holding a foxglove plant and two paintings of his doctor holding digitalis. However, this may be pure speculation about Van Gogh’s color palette choice but what is known is digitalis has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes.